Compare towns
Hadley vs Needham vs South Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hadley | Needham | South Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
32,459Highest |
17,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Hadley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,500 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
24 min 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #116 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Needham | South Hadley |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Needham High | South Hadley High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.